Let Manuel Stay! Stop the deportation!

Manuel was forced to flee Mexico because of the constant threats, and physical and sexual violence he suffered at the hands of a police officer, who wouldn’t accept that Manuel had ended their relationship. Fearing for his life, Manuel came to Canada in December of 2008, seeking refugee status. After nearly four years of living in Canada, Manuel’s refugee claim and subsequent recourses to remain in Canada were rejected. Manuel’s deportation date is only days away – Thursday, July 26th! We invite you to show your support for Manuel and stand in solidarity with his struggle to remain in Canada!

We urge Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney to intervene and use his discretionary powers to grant Manuel permanent residency status. In addition, we request that a stay of deportation occur until the Inter-American Commission Human Rights (IACHR)has been able to make a decision based on their investigation.

If Manuel is forced to return to Mexico, his life would, without doubt, be at risk. Attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in Mexico are still commonplace. The Mexican government cannot assure its citizens of protection and justice due to corruption and impunity which disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, including sexual minorities, visible in the number of murders of LGBT people yearly. In Manuel’s case, he experienced physical and sexual violence at the hands of a police officer. The human rights abuses perpetrated by Mexican police forces and the failure to establish credible oversight controls have been well documented by the Amnesty International Annual Report 2011. Manuel will be forced to live in constant hiding, since the police officer persecuting Manuel could easily trace his whereabouts anywhere in Mexico.

Even though Manuel will have to live in hiding if returned to Mexico, he has decided to speak out while he is still in Canada because he does not want what happened to him happen to other refugees, especially LGBT Mexicans. Manuel’s case highlights the obstacles facing LGBT and Mexican refugees within Canada’s refugee system, which will only worsen with the implementation of new refugee reform bill C-31, which goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in addition to Canada’s international refugee obligations. Bill C-31 will make an already difficult refugee process, even more difficult, increasing the number of migrants and refugees facing detention and deportation.

Since Manuel arrived in Canada nearly 4 years ago, he has established strong roots here, as part of multiple, diverse communities and is now heavily involved in various migrant and LGBT newcomer organisations. He is a gentle, thoughtful and hard-working individual who has enriched the lives of those around him. If Manuel were forcibly returned to Mexico, it would be a tremendous loss to our communities.

We, the undersigned, urge Minister Jason Kenney, to use his discretionary powers to grant Manuel Sanchez permanent residency status. We also request that Manuel receive a stay of deportation until the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has been able to make a decision based on their investigation. Let Manuel stay!

Manuel was forced to flee Mexico because of the constant threats, and physical and sexual violence he suffered at the hands of a police officer, who wouldn’t accept that Manuel had ended their relationship. Fearing for his life, Manuel came to Canada in December of 2008, seeking refugee status. If Manuel is forced to return to Mexico, his life would, without doubt, be at risk. Attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in Mexico are still commonplace. The Mexican government cannot assure its citizens of protection and justice due to corruption and impunity which disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, including sexual minorities, visible in the number of murders of LGBT people yearly. In Manuel’s case, he experienced physical and sexual violence at the hands of a police officer. The human rights abuses perpetrated by Mexican police forces and the failure to establish credible oversight controls have been well documented by the Amnesty International Annual Report 2011. Manuel will be forced to live in constant hiding, since the police officer persecuting Manuel could easily trace his whereabouts anywhere in Mexico.

Since Manuel arrived in Canada nearly 4 years ago, he has established strong roots here, as part of multiple, diverse communities. Manuel is now heavily involved in various migrant and LGBTQ newcomer organisations. He is a gentle, thoughtful and hard-working individual who has enriched the lives of those around him. If Manuel were forcibly returned to Mexico, it would be a tremendous loss to our communities.

There are a growing number of individuals, communities and organisations that are standing in solidarity with Manuel and his struggle to remain in Canada. Minister Kenney, we urge you to intervene and use your discretionary powers to provide Manuel with permanent residency status.